Lambet Howarth struggles, Lakeland sees pre-tax profit rise

Lambert Howarth, the design, and distribution business supplying footwear, accessories and homeware products of own label and branded lines to retail customers, is seeking funds to restructure its homewares division.

After losses dropped into the red in 2006 as sales fell from £88.2m to £62.7m, the company says the homewares division lost £10.4m last year.

It is now in fundraising talks with shareholders and potential new investors.

Kitchenware and homeware company Lakeland has reported a 17% pre-tax profit rise to 36.3 million over its last trading year.

The strong performance was boosted by the opening of four stores. Turnover for the company reached £123m in the year to December 31, 2006.

It is now 'confident about its prospects for 2007'

Scotts Miracle-Gro UK was held up as a shining example of an uplift in international sales by its chairman Jim Hagedorn.

The chairman said that epos data from retailers across the UK showed sales were 'nearly up 70%' in the lawn and garden market during January to March 2007 compared to the same period last year.